Is Washington Husky defensive back Cameron Williams on a collision course with the Transfer Portal or finally taking the time to heal up?
The Cal game hero from a year ago, a former 4-star safety played in just 4 games this season. In a slight twist, it was he who informed the team that he will take the remainder of the year off.
Kuao Peihopa and Daniel Heimuli have been suspended for rules violations, the team has announced— but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Williams.
In 2018 the Huskies signed Williams and he enrolled in January of 2019. The early enrollment appeared to pay off as he started 6 games that year including the Las Vegas Bowl, Chris Petersen’s final game.
He was on track to be the next great Husky DB.
Originally from Bakersfield, California Williams has grown an inch and added 22 pounds and went into the 2022 season at 6-0, and 208 pounds.
That it was the player who made the decision to opt-out would be odd if not for it being a regular occurrence during the pandemic time period of 2020 season.
Earlier this year he spoke of the discord within the Jimmy Lake staff but appeared to be enjoying the new regime.
Could this be a medical red shirt or a straight red shirt? He’s not injury-prone, he’s a physical player who’s been injured. He just never really seemed to get fully healthy.
A pinky, a cavicle, an AC Joint—and both hands last season against Cal when he forced a fumble. He’s been a warrior.
The timing of him telling the coaches that he was opting out the week of the Arizona State game makes sense. He could get a 6 month jump on finally getting.
In his Husky career he’s started 10 games, seeing action in many more and has risen in big moments when his team needed him most. Like against USC in just his 5th game in purple and gold, when he picked off Matt Fink twice in the Husky’s 28-14 victory at Husky Stadium. And the Cal game last year with the forced fumble to seal UW’s victory.
He last saw action this season in the first four games when decided it was time to get his body right.
It can’t have been easy for Williams to watch the Washington defense backs struggle at times this season but the hope is that being pain free will pay off in the long run.
Only time will tell.
